In a letter released late last week, Lake Manager, Joe L. Custer PMP, denied that the Corps was intentionally lowering the lake level to assist in the repair of the Cumberland Levee.
Excerpts from that letter:
“I have been hearing numerous rumors and concerns about the Corps of Engineers dropping the lake levels to facilitate the repair of the North Cumberland levee. I just wanted to touch base with everyone and ensure you all that the Corps is NOT intentionally dropping the lake level for the ongoing repair of the levee. The contractor is onsite and actively working to repair the levee. Cimarex Oil Company is actively working to develop a pumping strategy to dewater the Cumberland area to regain access to their oil and gas infrastructure.
Southwestern Power has been generating for peaking power production, but this is the only water being release from the dam at this time.”
Southwest Power Administration is a Federal Agency that operates within the Department of Energy. Southwest is one of four Power Marketing Administrations in the country. Southwestern sells hydroelectric power in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. The power they market comes from 24 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams.
There are eight Oklahoma Lakes generating power for Southwest at this time. Currently the projected discharge from Lake Texoma is 10,400 cubic feet per second (CFS). Robert S. Kerr Lake is discharging at 45,000 CFS, Webber Falls at 35,000 CFS, Eufala at 15,100 CFS, and the lowest discharge rate is Tentkiller Lake at 4,100 CFS. The current water level at Lake Texoma as of noon on October 18, 2015 is 613.91 feet.
The Cumberland Levee is part of the Corps Lake Texoma project. Authorized by the Flood Control act of 1938, the levee was constructed by the Corps of Engineers as part of the construction of the Denison Dam. The levee, which sits just north-west of the Fort Washita Bridge on Highway 199, holds back water from the Washita River, channeling it into Lake Texoma. Heavy rainfall in May, June and Tropical Storm Bill caused the Washita River to go over the top of the levee. Highway 199 was flooded and an eight hundred foot breach sent flood waters into the oil and gas fields the levee was protecting.
Repair of the Cumberland Levee began in October. Phase I will consist of the construction of a temporary cofferdam on the river side of the breach. The $3.2 million contract for Phase I will also provide for temporary repairs to an adjacent section of the levee that suffered a partial breach. Once this is completed, crews will attempt to remove the water in the flooded areas. This should allow for the re-opening of Highway 199. Pumping is scheduled to begin in November and could continue for four months, depending on the weather.
Phase II will provide for permanent repairs to the levee system. There are no plans to increase the height of the levee. Phase II construction is scheduled to begin in late summer 2016. Funding is always an issue, but with natural energy resources like oil and gas production at risk, my bet is on someone finding the necessary funds. Lobby on!